FORGOTTEN PAST (A SITE DEDICATED TO HERITAGE AND CULTURE): BOOK LAUNCH FUNCTION OF THE MONOGRAPH: THE MAKING OF THE FIRST CANTONMENT OF THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT IN PATNA, 1757-1768 AUTHORED BY PRABUDDHA BISWAS ON NOVEMBER 20, 2016; SUNDAY

(C) Copy Right of Prabuddha Biswas

(COVER PAGE)

(BACK COVER)

Venue: The Patna Museum Auditorium (Sri Karpoori Thakur Sabhagar)

Date: - November 20, 2016

Time: - 11 A. M. onwards....

THE PROGRAMME WAS AS FOLLOWS: -

1. Inviting dignitaries to dais / Formal Welcome

WELCOMING N. R. MOHANTY

WELCOMING PRABUDDHA BISWAS

LIGHTING THE LAMP

Book Launch was done by Sri N. R. Mohanty

BOOK LAUNCH OF THE "MONOGRAPH: THE MAKING OF THE FIRST CANTONMENT OF THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT IN PATNA, 1757-1768"

FIRST SESSION

3. Key Note Address: - Dr. (Prof.) Sumanta Niyogi, Former HOD History, Patna University

DR. SUMANTA NIYOGI DELIVERING KEY-NOTE ADDRESS

4. PPT Presentation on the Book by Prabuddha Biswas (Author)

PRABUDDHA BISWAS, AUTHOR SPEAKING ABOUT HIS BOOK

5. Observation / comment (if any) from the audience

DR. RATNESHWAR MISHRA SHARING HIS OBSERVATION REGARDING THE BOOK AND THE AUTHOR

6. Special Comment / Address and Concluding the first session by the Guest of Honour, Mr. N. R. Mohanty, Director, Jagran Institute of Management of Mass Communication, Noida.

MR. N. R. MOHANTY ADDRESSING THE AUDIENCE

SECOND SESSION

7. Address by the Chief Guest: - Honourable Education Minister Dr. Ashok Choudhary

MR. RAKESH SINGH, PRESIDENT EXTRA C* READING OUT THE MESSAGE OF THE EDUCATION MINISTER, DR. ASHOK CHOUDHARY

8. Presidential Address by Mr. Vivek Kumar Singh, IAS; Principal Secretary, Department of Environment and Forest

MR. VIVEK KUMAR SINGH, IAS; PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST; DELIVERING HIS PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH

DIGNITARIES AND AUGUST AUDIENCE: - BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER..........

DR. MALA GHOSH (TEACHER OF TEACHERS)

DR. SANDHYA NIYOGI, DR. SUMANTA NIYOGI, DR. RATNESHWAR MISHRA AND MITHILESH KUMAR, IAS (RETD.)

9. Vote of Thanks by Dr. Arvind Mahajan, Regional Deputy Director, Directorate of Museums

DR. ARVIND MAHAJAN

The Stage Coordination and welcome address to guests was done by Dr. Arvind Mahajan.

SHORT SUMMARY OF THE BOOK LAUNCH FUNCTION

The Book Launch Function of Monograph: The Making of the First Cantonment of the Indian Subcontinent in Patna” was inaugurated by the Director of the Jagran Institute of Management of Mass Communication (Noida), Mr. N.R. Mohanty and presided by Mr. Vivek Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary of the Department of Environment and Forest.

The Monograph was formally launched by Mr. N. R. Mohanty.

The key-note address about the 18^th Century background of the book was given by the former HOD of History of Patna University, Dr. (Prof.) Sumanta Niyogi; while the author Prabuddha Biswas gave a brief description about the content of the book.

This 400 page - pioneering book describes the initial twelve (1757 – 68) years; which led to the (i) establishment of the Military Barrack in Bankipur in 1757 (ii) followed by its upgradation as ‘Cantonment’ in 5^th August, 1765 and (iii) later, the relocation of Bankipur Cantonment to 12 Km west at Danapur during 1767-68. The Principal Secretary of Art, Culture and Youth, Mr. Vivek Kumar Singh has written the ‘Foreword’ of the book.

The dignitaries who attended the meeting include Dr. (Prof.) Mala Ghosh (former Principal Magadh Mahila College) , Mr. Mithilesh Kumar, IAS (Retd.), Dr. Ratneshwar Mishra (former HOD History, L.N. Mithila University, Darbhanga), Dr. C. P. Sinha (former Director, K. P. Jayaswal Research Institute, Patna), Dr. Sandhya Niyogi, Dr (Prof.) Shankar Ashis Dutt (English Dept., Patna University), Dr (Prof.) Muniba Sami (English Dept., Patna University), Dr. Bijay Kumar Chaudhary (Director, K. P. Jayaswal Research Institute, Patna), Dr. Imtiyaz Ahmad (Ex-Director, Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna), Dr. Satyendra Kumar Jha (Conservation Officer, Directorate of Archaeology, Govt. of Bihar), Prof. Rakesh Kumar (Magadh University), Mr. Sanjiv Kumar (Educationist), Mr. B. Vinod (Principal, DPS, Patna), Dr. Anil Kumar, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Sinha, Dr. Kumari Lalita, Dr. Atia Begum (all from KPJRI) Dr. Shankar Suman (Assistant Curator, Patna Museum), Dr. Shiv Kumar Mishra (Bihar Research Society), Mr. Pranav K. Chaudhary (Times of India), Kaushalendra Mishra (Hindustan), Madam Shweta Sinha, Mr. Tejkar Jha (both from 'Vigyapan') among others.

The function was organised under the banner of ‘Extra C* - A No-profit organisation’, who organise quiz, crossword and cryptic crossword puzzles among students and others. In the end, the Regional Director of the Directorate of Museums Arvind Mahajan, gave the vote of thanks.

BRIEF HISTORY, BEHIND THE MAKING OF THE PATNA CANTONMENT

In the year 2015, the oldest British Cantonment of the Indian Sub-continent in Patna had become 250 years old. It was way back on August 5, 1765 that the old barrack of Bankipur was elevated to the rank of ‘Cantonment’ which was later re-located 12 km west of Patna i.e. in Danapur from 1767 – 68.

After the reorganization of the then Bengal Army by Robert Clive dated August 5, 1765; the headquarters of the three newly formed Brigades were at following places: -

(a) The First Brigade was stationed at Munger Fort; and which was also made the headquarter of the ‘Commander-in-Chief’ of the then Bengal Army.

(b) The Second Brigade was stationed at Allahabad Fort

Though ‘Munger, Allahabad and Bankipore’ were three initial cantonments of the Indian subcontinent but

(i) Munger Cantonment was dismantled and shifted to Berhampur (Murshidabad) and

(ii) Allahabad Cantonment was discontinued and shifted more than once before it stabilized as permanent cantonment in later period.

(iii) But, the Patna Cantonment at Bankipore (Bankipur) followed by its relocation at Danapur continued uninterruptedly from 1765 till today, making it the oldest cantonment in the Indian subcontinent , which completes 250 years on August 5, 2015.

THE THREE NEWLY FORMED CANTONMENTS AND THEIR RE-LOCATED PLACES

Some of the Government documents quote that Barrackpore (Barrackpur) Cantonment is the oldest cantonment in the Indian sub-continent but it is not correct as it was established in 1772 AD, according to Bengal District Gazetteers of 24 – Parganas of L.S.S. O’Malley, I.C.S. (1908) which quotes as follows: - “The name of the town (Barrackpore or Barrackpur) is due to the fact that troops have been stationed here since 1772”.